Five for Friday March 28: Celebrating Success in Advancing Medication Use Quality
Welcome to the 100th edition of Five For Friday!
This series began four years ago, shortly after I joined PQA. The vision was to highlight our members’ amazing work to improve medication use quality. Since then, we have shared 300 news stories featuring nearly 200 organizations. Many of those stories profile the cross-sector collaborations that are so important to our unique multi-stakeholder alliance.
We look forward to sharing more member news plus opportunities to engage in PQA’s work for years to come through this biweekly email.
If you appreciate the stories featured here, you’ll love the PQA Annual Meeting. It brings together nearly 500 health care quality leaders to learn, network, and build partnerships. Our sessions provide an opportunity to hear in-person and discuss ways to improve medication safety, adherence and appropriate use. Learn more below.
We also highlight our members' perspectives on pharmacy interoperability, immunizations and nutrition. If you have news you'd like for us to spotlight in an upcoming Five For Friday, send us an email!
-- Micah Cost, PharmD, MS, CAE, PQA Chief Executive Officer
The Sequoia Project, a nonprofit and trusted advocate for nationwide health information technology interoperability, has launched the Pharmacy Workgroup to close gaps in pharmacy interoperability by identifying and operationalizing information that pharmacists need to access and share with other providers and payers. Learn about the project, which includes Surescripts, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the American Pharmacists Association Foundation, and the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs.
Assessing State Immunization Policies
Many states within the United States have protocols enacted that impede pharmacists’ authority to administer vaccinations and has led to decreased vaccination rates nationwide, according to data published by IQVIA. Authors of the report believe removing these protocols and giving more authority to pharmacists would significantly improve immunization rates among U.S. adults. Of note, PQA is conducting an immunization pilot.
Empowering Pharmacists in Food is Medicine
March is National Nutrition Month. Sara Roszak, Senior Vice President of Health and Wellness Strategy and Policy for the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, addresses in a new podcast why pharmacists are so well positioned to support Food Is Medicine initiatives, the infrastructure that can scale these programs faster, and how the Association is contributing to the White House’s efforts to tackle diet-related illnesses.
The 2025 PQA Annual Meeting 
Join PQA at the 2025 PQA Annual Meeting, May 19-21, 2025, at the JW Marriot Tampa Water Street. This year's meeting will address top issues and emerging trends in medication use quality, such as medication therapy management, value-based arrangements, obesity treatment and care, and strategies for closing gaps in care and outcomes.
Meeting registration and hotel reservations are open. Members who register before April 21 receive a registration rate of $599.
Here are our top three reasons to attend:
- Network throughout the meeting to connect with PQA members and leaders across health care.
- All 15 breakout sessions are accredited for pharmacists continuing education. Earn 0.4 CEUs of credit.
- More than 50 speakers will share expert insights and best practices to improve medication use quality from every angle in the industry.
See the full agenda to learn more about our general sessions and the topics and speakers for our 15 breakout sessions. PQA also offers a special 4-hour, pre-meeting workshop. Medication Use Quality Live, accredited for 0.4 hours of pharmacy CE.
Your Next Engagement Opportunities
Network, Learn and Collaborate with PQA
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Join Micah Cost virtually at the Total Pharmacy Solutions Summit tomorrow, Saturday, March 29 at 9:00 am ET. His keynote session, "Transforming Pharmacy Practice to Deliver Value," will delve into the evolving pharmacy landscape and how to position pharmacy for success in value-based care. Register today!
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Join us for a Quality Industry Spotlight Powered by PQA on Thursday, April 3, 1-2 pm ET, sponsored by Outcomes. Panelists from Outcomes and Highmark Health will present their expansive pharmacy network, designed to support and enhance health plans' efforts to maintain and improve HEDIS and Star measures. Register today!
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Join us at the 2025 PQA Annual Meeting, May 19-21, at the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street in Tampa, Fla. PQA's collaborative approach makes it the meeting the preferred destination for quality improvement professionals. Registration is now open!